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Sal actually considered making Fai literally drag him to the statue. He almost did, too...but then he realized (or rather, remembered) that there was such a height difference that it would be something of a problem. So he cast aside all bratty thoughts and followed after the Alchemist, quietly examining the statue as it was brought to his attention.

"That is fascinating!" He agreed eagerly, feeling a very familiar power radiate from the item itself. They were getting weaker, he knew that much...and he wanted to go through this portal so bad it was burning at his core. "Ah, perhaps that is a mystery better solved later, dear one...how about we take advantage of this opportunity?" Thin fingers brushed feather light against the portal, the familiar zap and tingle more than thrilling.

"I miss them, the Humans...so fragile, so frightened." The more analytical part of his mind had shut down to show need. The darker side of the generally amiable Horseman crying out to frighten and scare, maim and murder. But he wasn't stupid enough to go alone, not anymore.

"Shall we, my friend?"

The Sage easily followed his friend into the Human World, a content sigh escaping his lips at the familiar feel. This world was devoid of ever-present FEAR, but it had it's own charms. It felt like a fancy restaurant, the kind who lets you choose which lobster you would like to have for dinner. He took in a deep breath of anticipation, lidded red eyes surveying the slew of humans as they milled about. "Yes, we shall." He said softly, his eagerness making him sound almost dreamy.

Salbei moved through the crowds of humans, unseen and unnoticed for the time being. No matter how eager he was, he was teasing himself. Patiently taking his time, picking out which lobster would be best suited for him. There were many options; big, small, thin, plump, jittery, confident...so many good choices, and yet nothing he saw as perfect.

That was, of course, until he saw them. A couple on a date, it seemed. His walk had slowed to a halt as he watched them, unassuming and happy in each other's company. Faiyum was all but forgotten as Salbei decided that these were his, the prey he had missed so much.

He stalked them, he manifested parts of himself for the pair to see; bone feet moving with a purpose through the grass, disappearing just long enough to make them question themselves before a thin, ghostly hand brushed so lightly against one of them. He played cat and mouse with them, toying with them until the one so bravely urged the other to flee. Oh...Oh that was the best.

The couple was given their chance at freedom. He let them flee, feeling drunk on power as he watched them panic; one spewed threats and curses to try and scare him off, the other was torn between saving themselves and saving their lover...but in the end, it didn't matter.

Salbei tormented them until they were at their wits end, and with too eager of a single blow, killed them both.

When it was done he gave a heavy sigh of bliss, tilting his head back, his red eyes closed. "Ahh...I feel alive again." The horseman murmured to the dark sky, his body tingling with the generated FEAR mingled with the thrill of the hunt, the power over someone else's life.

Perfection.


Salbei's FEAR total: 2

"Yes, this does seem to be quite the hot spot," Fai agreed, lurking in the shadows. He wanted a child. But every child he saw was accompanied by adults, and gathered in the large group of humans. Culling one from the herd might have been easy, once upon a time, but he knew his restrictions.

Perhaps there was some sort of celebration going on tonight? "Tell me, Sal, is this a night of human celebration or something? I've quite forgotten what days they gather on..."

"I think we should return, as sad as I feel about it," Fai said to his friend, heading back to the portal and passing by the water--then stopping. He heard them speaking, he thought, holding a hand up to stop Sal from going forward.

"I'm telling you, Dan is SLEEPING with your girlfriend," a female yelled. "You need to see it, Jack, you need to know what a b***h she really is!"

"You're making things up, Sally. Amanda would never do something like that to me," Jack replied. Fai let the tiniest of smiles pull at his lips as he moved on silent feet, stepping into the light. For a moment he let them act their drama out, let the poor ghoul try and convince the male--

Then he let Precious go down, slipping into the grass. A hushed rustling noise came, audible even for the humans. But they were so busy that they didn't notice it at first--not until Precious touched an ankle. The girl jerked her foot away, stopping in mid sentence to look down. "Something just brushed my leg."

"Maybe it was a snake or something," Jack said.

"I hate snakes, why did you say that?" The girl started stomping the ground with her foot, trying to step on the nonexistent snake--and Precious wrapped around her ankle. "Jack--Jaaaackkkk!!!" she screamed, trying to pull back, only to fall on her a**. "Something's got me!!"

The vine wrapped around her leg, creeping higher. "Nothing has you," Jack said, coming over. "You're just--what in the hell is THAT?"

Another vine shot out, grabbing the boy by the leg. "It's got me too," he said, tripping backwards. The vines sprouted smaller vines, ones that slid into the skin, dancing underneath it, wiggling and climbing, higher and higher.

The two were screaming, sobbing tears falling down their cheeks as they tried desperately to pull free of the vines that were taking them over from the inside. It was a delicious, heady, sensation, and Fai had an expression of pure bliss as his vines spread through their weak bodies--and pierced their hearts.

He went still, pulling the vines back to them. "I suppose I spoke too soon, my good friend," he said in a hint of apology. "It HAS been too long."

Then he turned, heading for the mirror that would lead them back to Amity. Not as satisfied as he could have been, but better off than he had been.

Fai's FEAR: 2

"Indeed," Fai agreed. Ah, if only he could do that sort of thing to those... hunters, instead, he thought as he stepped through the mirror and back into Halloween. It would be far, far more satisfying.